Improvement in automatic switch apparatus



O. R. VAN RUYVEN. Automatic-Switch Apparatus.

No.22 t 8.,

Patented Oct. 7, I879.

WITNESSES t Y @z W2 m/ 45/ b mw' ggig ATTORNEYS.

INVENTOR N. PErERS. PHOTO-LIYHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. n c.

UNITED S A'rEs PATENT ()FFIGE.

CORNELIUS R.,VAN R U YVEN, OF DEVENTER, NETHERLANDS.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC SWITCH APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,448, dated October7, 1879; application filed June 12, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

I Be it known that I, CORNELIUS ROELAND' VAN BUYVEN, of Deventer,Netherland s, haveinvented a new and Improved Apparatus for Controllingthe Position of Switches or Sliding Rails or Railways, of which theibllbwing the engineer or engine-driver, the movable rails being shiftedor adjusted in position by means of devices on the locomotive.

The invention relates to the construction and arrangement of parts, ashereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a railroad-track and switch andlocomotive-truck fitted with the said apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation on line 00 a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a vertical crosssection online 3 3; of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of the switch-lever andstand.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The switch shown is an ordinary safetyswitch, a a being the movingpoints, which are fitted to be operated, as usual, by the handlever b.Upon the upper end of the hand-lever b is hung a weight, 0, which actsto move the lever in either direction to complete its movement andprevent the lever remaining in a vertical or half-way position. Betweenthe rails of the track the swinging arms or slides 01 d are placed,these arms being pivoted to the ties at e, and connected by stays f, sothat they move together sidewise between the rails, and their extrememoving ends move between the switch-points a a.

The ends of arms (1 (1 lie against or contigu ous to the switch-points,so that by any movement of the switch the arms are caused to move, orvice versa.

The arms or slides d d are formed with a raised web or flange portion,extending their entire length, and projecting above the level of thetrack.

B represents a locomotive-truck, at the forward end of which, in boxes 9g, a cross-shaft or axle, h, is fitted. The boxes 9 are fitted forvertical movement in slots, and are forced downward by springs 13, sothat there will be sufficient elasticity under concussion to preventbreakage.

Upon the outer ends of shaft h lockingblocks 70 k are rigidly attached,which blocks project downward to near the top of the rails, and are eachformed with an inner flange, which projects below the head of the railsat the inner side, as shown in Fig. 3, for purposes hereinafter setforth. The shaft h is rigid in boxes g, and the downward movement of theboxes is regulated by set-screws l 1. Upon the shaft h are hung looselythe guideblocks m m, each of which is formed eccentric, or with aprojecting portion that acts upon the sliding arms 01 or d to shift theswitch.

The blocks m m are fitted for separate movement by means of levers n it,placed in the locomotive-cab, which levers connect by rods 0 0 tocrank-arms p 19, that are hung upon a crossshaft, q, and connect bylinks 7' r with blocks m m. The levers n n are fitted wit-hspringcatches of any suitable character for retaining the parts inposition.

The operation is as follows: As the locomotive approaches the switch inthe direction of the arrow, and it is desired to take the righthandtrack while the switch is set for the left track, the guide-block m atthe right-hand side of the locomotive is to be operated by its lever ato bring its point downward, which, as the locomotive moves forward,comes in contact with the outer side of the slide or arm d, pressing thesame sidewise, and shifting the switch-points.

If the switch be set to the right, and it is desired to go to the left,the block m at the left side of the locomotive will be brought by itslever n to the required position for operatin g upon the arm d. Theblocks m m should be raised again after the switch is passed.

The sliding arms 01 d are to extend a sufficient distance from theswitch-points to ob tain a gradual movement, and the levers n n will bearranged in a right and left hand position, corresponding to theguidc'blocks m m, so that by operating the right or left hand lever, thedriver insures the passage of the locomotive to the right or left, asdesired, without requiring him to know the position of the switch.

The locking-blocks k k pass over the switchpoints in advance of thepilot-wheels, and by their flanges bind the switch-point a or a to therail, after the switch is shifted, to prevent any return movement.

The apparatus may be applied to other forms of switches than that shown,and may be fitted to be operated by a locomotive coming from eitherdirection.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patout- CORNELII'S ROELAND VAN RIYY'VEN.

Witnesses:

L. U. F. PRGNTGEN, U. A. Rrrrcss.

